background

Tel Arad is located about 8 km west of the city of Arad, between the Be’er Sheba valley and the Arad valley. The name “Arad” is mentioned in the Bible as the name of a Canaanite city in the eastern Negev, and in the list of cities of the Negev of Judah (with possible letters – “Adar”). This ancient name has been preserved throughout history, up to the present day. The results of the excavations in Arad and other sites in the Beer Sheba valley have greatly contributed to the understanding of the area and its history, and have made it one of the most researched areas in Israel. A conservation and reconstruction operation was carried out at the site, focusing on the Canaanite city and the Judean citadel.

The site was surveyed by Nelson Glueck (American School of Archaeology) and David Alon (Antiquities Authority) in the 1950s, and 18 seasons of excavation were conducted alternately between 1966-1984 by the Israel Exploration Society, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Israel Museum. Starting with the second season of excavations, work at the mound was conducted in two expeditions operating simultaneously – one focused on the Canaanite city, led by the late Prof. Ruth Amiran, and the other on the citadel, led by the late Prof. Yohanan Aharoni, who died in 1976 and did not fully publish his findings.

The Canaanite city

The earliest layer on the site refers to the “Beer Sheba culture” that existed in the Chalcolithic period (4500-3500 BCE), and the main finds are silos and foundations for temporary buildings. In the Early Bronze Age I (around 3200 BCE), a settlement developed that consisted of dwellings in natural caves and became a large and well-planned city which was destroyed and abandoned at the end of the Early Bronze Age II (2650 BCE). An important find from this period is Serach Naramer (the first ruler of united Egypt), which indicates trade between Egypt and the south of the Land of Israel at that time. The Canaanite city was characterized by the “Aredite house” model, which has a similar structure throughout the city. In addition, a central water reservoir was found, which was used by the residents of the site even in the later periods.

Citadel Hill

The citadel mound, located in the northeastern part of the site, developed on the ruins of the Canaanite city. 12 settlement layers have been identified at the tel, which include the remains of six citadels that were built one on top of the other. The researchers identified the division between layers using the height of the floor level in each layer. There is a height difference of about 2 m between the earliest and the latest layer on the citadel mound. The citadel was inhabited almost continuously from the 11th century BCE, until the destruction of the Kingdom of Judah in 586 BCE. In the 10th century BCE, a citadel was built there with a closing wall (consisting of rooms adjacent to each other). This citadel was destroyed at the end of the 10th century (possibly as part of a campaign launched in 924 BCE). The citadel that was built immediately after, under the rule of the Kingdom of Judah, had a full and wide wall, and included a complex defense system (like watchtowers), residential complexes, archives, food and equipment warehouses, a complex water system and a temple.

The temple in Arad existed between the 8th and 9th centuries BCE and underwent several architectural changes throughout the years of its existence. An area with an altar and a covered structure that included a hall and a shrine was found in the vicinity of the temple. Inside the shrine a tombstone and 2 incense altars were found. On top of the altars were kept remains of material burnt organic matter. Following residue analysis tests (among other things), cannabis and animal fat were found in the remains, which shed light on the Jewish worship at that time. The altars were found covered and this is probably evidence of the cancellation of the worship in the building at the end of the 8th century BCE, possibly as part of the ritual reform of King Hezekiah.

In one of the burnt rooms at the site, an archive was discovered containing seals, administrative inscriptions and ostraca, which mention the name of one of the commanders of the citadel in the 7th-6th centuries BCE – Elishiv bin Ashiyahu. This archive is a testimony to the meticulous and professional administration in the Kingdom of Judah. Inscriptions referring to historical events were found in it. In addition, the study of the text reveals the set of roads, the identification of names and the administrative structure.

The citadel mound is rich in objects and products that testify to rich and developed trade relations. For example – trees from Lebanon, vessels from the Galilee and the Golan, a Galilee seal and a bronze statue with Assyrian influence. In addition, in a number of inscriptions, mentions of sects (Greeks? Cypriots?) and theophoric names were found that mention the Edomite god “Kos.” An inscription was also found that was used in Hieratic (Egyptian) letters.

After the destruction of Judah

The site continued to serve as a regional administrative center responsible for trade, provision of supplies and protection of caravans even after the period of the Kingdom of Judah. The empires and kingdoms that ruled the land used it for this role also in the Persian period, as well as in the Hellenistic, early Roman and early Arab periods. In later times it was used as a burial site for Bedouins.

Sources:

Eran Arie, Baruch Rosen & Dvory Namdar (2020) Cannabis and Frankincense at the Judahite Shrine of Arad, Tel Aviv, 47:1, pp. 5-28.

Herzog, Z. (1997). Arad: the citadel mound in Arad. Published by the united kibbutz.

Amiran, R., Ilan, A., Saban, M. (1997). Arad: Canaanite Arad – a gateway city to the desert. Published by the united kibbutz.